Garment stretcher



Feb. 2, 1960 P. w. MUELLER GARMENT STRETCHER Filed Sept. 29, 1958 FIG.2

United States Patent f 2,923,448 GAR ME NT STRETCHER Peter W; Mueller, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to Flat Steel Mfg. Company, St, Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missoun Application September 29, 1958, Serial No. 764,161

2 Claims. 01. 223-43 I This invention relates to garment stretchers of the type formed as adjustable frames, and more particularly, to

the locking device for holding the adjustment of the proposed for holding the frame parts in their properly adjusted or spread position, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking device which is more readily manipulated by the user and which develops sufficient locking action, yet which is economical to manufacture and install.

To these ends, briefly, the invention contemplates that the frame will be formed from at least two parts with end portions thereof secured together, as by retaining clips, for sliding cooperation. For example, a pants creasing frame would be of generally elongate rectangular shape, the frame parts being of a general U-shape and being extensible at the top and bottom so as to permit adjustment of the frame width. Locking devices are provided at the top and bottom. A cam-like ramp is formed on one of the overlapping portions of one frame part in diverging relationship to the other frame part. This ramp is located near the end of the one frame part, and tapers in that direction. A locking element surrounding both overlapping frame parts near the narrow end of the ramp is movable longitudinally up the ramp to create a wedging gripping cooperation with the frame parts, thereby to lock these parts against movement.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates that the locking element will be in the form of a coil. As such, the locking element is conveniently manufactured and assembled. Also, the convolutions of the coil provide an exterior surface which is readily grasped for manipulation and an interior surface which develops a strong gripping cooperation with the frame parts.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coil-like locking element is formed of soft wire and in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coil-like locking element is formed of a spring wire, the spring being of a length such that is normally compressed between the retaining clip and the ramp formed on one of the frame parts. Accordingly, one end of the spring is normally biased up the ramp and may function as a locking element itself, or it may actuate a small collar or ring in the locking direction up the ramp.

Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent from and in part described in the accompanying detailed description, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a garment stretcher, such as might be used as a pants creaser;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one frame member forming part of the garment stretcher of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, taken in the direction Patented Feb. 2, 19 60 "ice . 2 of arrows 33, of the top portion of the garment stretcher of Fig. 1 and illustrating the locking device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the locking device of Fig. 1;. :v

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5?5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4,-but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to-the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates-a frame of a generally rectangular shape adapted to be inserted within the leg of a freshly washed pair of pants so that the pants will dry in proper shape. The frame is formed from a pair of flat narrow strips of steel or other materials, each frame part being U-shaped and having right-angular extensions. In Fig. 1,,one of the frame parts is generally designated A and the other generally designated B. The part A has. a short upper leg or extension Al, the longside is designated A2 and the bottom extension is designated A3. The other frame part has similar component sections designated B1, B2 and B3. The two parts of the frame are assembled so that the end portions of the top and bottom extensions overlap, as.illustrated in Fig. 1, and are secured together -by clips 5.

A hole 7 is cut at the very end of one extension A1 and retaining clip 5 is then folded around this end, the clip having a portion 9 upset therefrom to fit within the hole 7 so that the clip is anchored to extension A1. Otherwise, the clip 5 is folded around the overlapping portion of leg B1 to provide for an extensible sliding cooperation of the two frame parts. A similar retaining clip 11 is locked on the end of leg B1 and folded around the overlapping portion of leg A1.

The locking device of this invention is provided by forming a sloping bump or ramp 13 adjacent the ends 5 of one frame member, the ramp tapering in the direction toward that end of the frame part, and by positioning a coil locking element 15 around the narrow end of the ramp 13 adjacent retaining clip 5. The inside diameter of this coil 13 is such as to develop a gripping or wedging cooperation when the coil is moved up the ramp, thereby locking the two frame members against inward movement. In other words, further inward movement would tend to drive the ramp into the coil so as to increase the locking action, it being understood that the object is to prevent inward movement, the frames being adjusted outwardly as far as they will go so as to tension the surrounding garment. Necessarily, the frame can be released by slipping the coil 15 away from the ramp, whereupon the frame may be collapsed to release it from the garment or to readjust it for a different garment.

Locking members heretofore have been of a different shape, but the present locking element has certain advantages. The convolutions of the coil afford a rough surface which may be more forceably grasped by the user between his fingers, and the convolutions also may permit some expansion of the coil end (when forced up the ramp) for superior gripping action with the frame parts.

While the embodiment disclosed in connection with Figs. 1-5 utilizes a coil formed of soft wire, the coil might be formed of spring wire, either in part or in whole. The coil is then of the length such as to extend under normal conditions from the retaining clip 5 partially up the ramp 13 into locking relationship therewith. The spring condition in the coil will automatically tend to move a locking element or end of the coil up the ramp into locking engagement, thus automatically locking the frame against inward adjustment while permitting expansion of the frame. The frame is collapsed by manually moving coil end or locking element away from the ramp.

E be-spring -type of coil may be arranged so -that one eto athose vskilled thedartithat various modifications may the made without departing from the spi-rit qf this invention, iDI' the iscopeathereof :aas isetiforth in the appendedclaims.

' :Havlingrthn's described the invention, What is elair ned j and desired to beise'cured by Le'tters 'IPatent :is:

dn a garment stretcher lot the :type "having ,a pair of frame members \Wiihifigd :portions secured together inioverl appingrsliding relationship, the improvement that comprises M at :least ,one of :said ,ov'erlapping end portions of gthe :frame members :being :formed .with a tapering ramp, and .a slidable locking member rembraoing' said overlapping portions for ,movement into .and out of wedg-ing cooperation with Jsaid :ramp, said locking memlapping "portionsfor movement into and out of -wedgeross sectiona'l dimensien of the 'frame p'ortions at said her tbeing'formedaas antelongate open-end-.coi1..of Mire,

"that end of- 'the "coilradjacentthe ramp defining an open ing of a diameter less than the cross-sectional dimension of the frame portions at said ramp so as to have a wedging cooperation therewith, whereby said end of the coil may be moved into wedging cooperation'with the ramp. I j

2- In a men stri ther 9 t e type having a p of frame members' with portions thereof secured together npvsc eppings d ng re a on h p, he mp p r men at comp ises .at l ast m at s er appin por ons i' the frame members being formed with a tapering ramp,

and. a ,slida ble ,loeking member embraging said overing cooperation said, ramp, said Jock-ing member comprising a coiled wire being formed as an elongate open-end coil of wire, that endof the coil adjacent the ramp defining an opening of a diameterless than the ramp so-as to vhave a -wedging :cooperation therewith,

the coil beingfur'ther formed as a compression spring compressed between said ramp and spring-retaining means on oneof'the frame members. i

References-Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,209,139 Muelleretal. t July 23,1940 

